Valve and operating mechanism for internal-combustion engines.



J. V. & L. R. LEWIS.

VALVE AND OPERATING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. APPLICATION FlLED SEPT. is. 1918.

1,295,774.. r Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

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J. V. & L. R. LEWlS.,

vALvE ANO OPERATING MEOHANrsM FORYINTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILE-D SEPT-13. I918.

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JAMES VERNE LEWIS AND LEVI ROY LEWIS, F CLARKS SUMMIT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-FOURTH TO HAROLD A. STANTON, 0F CLARKS SUMMIT, PENN- SYLVAN'IA.

VALVE AND OPERATING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Toall whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES VERNE LEWIS and LEVI Roy Lnwis, citizens of the United States, residing at Clarks Summit, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Valves and Operating Mechanism for InternaLCombustion Engines, of which'the following is a specification.

This invention relates to internal ,combustion engines, particularly to valves and operating mechanism therefor, and has for its object the provision of an internal combustion engine in which each cylinder is provided with a single valve which is continuously rotatable in one direction and provided with a single port adapted to be brought into and out of registration with inlet and outlet ports successively whereby the explosive source may be-admitted to and the exhaust gases drawn from the. cylinder.

Animportant object is the provision of an internal combustion engine of this character in which each cylinder is provided with a. circular recess, wedge-shaped in cross section, concentric of the bore thereof'and having disposed therein a sleeve valve also wedge shaped in cross section, the inclination of the side of the recess and the .valve permitting adjustment whereby to take up" the wear upon the'valve and the recess so that the engine may be renderedpractically noisele'ssin operation. I.

A further object is the provision of an engine ofthis character in which the circular recess forming the valve seat is surrounded on both its outer and inner sides by waterjackets whereby the valves may be kept cool atjall times so as to insure a proper movement thereof without danger of sticking on account of expansion caused by excessive heat.

. Another object is the provision of an engine of this characterin which the rotary sleeve valves are-positively driven whereby to eliminate the necessity for the use of springs, the operation being this positive and assured.

Still another object is the provision of an engine of this-character in which the contacting surface of the engine casting where engaged by the rotary valve is provided with spring pressed packing rings bearing resiliently against .the valves whereby a tight Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 1 3, 1918. Serial No. 253,895.

joint will be produced which will prevent any possible leakage of oil.

Still another and important object is the provision of an engine of this character in which means are provided for resiliently urging the wedge-shaped rotary sleeve valve into resilient engagement with the inclined .walls of the wedge-shaped recess continually and automatically and without any necessity for manual adjustment except after long service.- I

' Still another and more specific object is the provision of an engine of this character in which all the rotary sleeve valves are positively driven by a single shaft operated from the crank shaft whereby proper synchronism and uniformity of movement of the differentvalves will be assured.

An additional object is the provision of anengine of this character which will beart. With the above and other objects and ad'-' vantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying. drawings in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the engine. Fig. '2 is a frontelevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of the cylinders, and

Fig. 4 1s a detail cross sectlonal View therethrough along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

' Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral 5 designates the crank shaft journaled within the crank case 6 to which is secured the casting 7 including the plurality of cylinders 8. The cylinders may be cast singly or en bloc, as preferred, this detail forming no essential part of the present invent-ion. Each cylinder 8 is provided with a bore 9 in which is reciprocable a piston 10 connected by a connecting rod 11 with the crankshaft 5 in the ordinary manner.

Each cylinder casting 8 is provided concentrically of the bore 9 with a circular recess 12 which is wedge-shaped-..in cross section as shown with its smallest width at the bottom. Each cylinder casting is further provided with radially extending inlet and outlet ports 13 and 14, respectively, which Patented Feb. 25, 1919..

are disposed 120 degrees apart. An inlet manifold is connected with all the .cylinders and communicates with the ports 13,

while.an exhaust manifold 16 is likewise connected with, all the cylinders and com municates with'the ports 14.

The circular wedge-shaped recess 12 constitutes the valve seat, and in order that this seat as well as the valve to be hereinafter described may be kept cool at all times, the cylinder castings are provided with water j ackets 17 and 18 which are disposed inwardly and outwardly of the recess 12, respectively, as clearly. shown. Each cylinder casting is provided in its upper wall above substantially the center of the piston with a threaded opening 19 in whiclrtheusual spark plug is disposed for igniting acharge compressed 9 between the iston 10 and the lower surface 20 of the top wall of the cylinder casting. This space constitutes the firing chamber and is designated by the numeral- 21. The minimum height of the chamber 21 is substantially equal to the height of the ports 13 and 14 so that the capacity of the firing chamber will be comparatively small so as to economize in the use of fuel while 7 permitting efi'ective compression of a charge.

The provision of'the spark plug receiving opening substantially centrally above the piston 1s believed to be an important feature as it provides for the ignition of a charge at substantially the center of the. firing chamber. In order that the top wall of the firing chamber may also be kept cool, the

. water jacket 17 extends within the upper wall of the firing chamber and terminates close to the spark plug opening. This upper'.

' portion of the water jacket 17 is designated disposed a plurality by the numeral 22.

Each cylinder 8 is provided with a single rotary sleeve valve including a cylindrical portion 23 and a ring-like top portion 24. The cylindrical portion 23 of each valve is wedge-shaped in cross section and conforms to the configuration of the wedge-shaped recess. The ring-like portion'24 of each valve is provided with an outwardly extending flange 25 terminating slightly short of an upstanding flange 26 formed on eachcylinder casting. i a

In order to form a tight fit between the valve and the cylinder casting, a circular groove 27 is formed in the top of the casting at its area of. contact with the underside of the .top 24 of the valve, and within this groove is disposed a plurality of leaf springs .28 upon which is supported a packing ring 29. The cylinder, casting is further provided at its area of contact with the out- Wardly extending flange 25 of the valve top 24, with a similar groove-30 withinx'hvhich is porting the underside of the flange 25. The provi- -in firm engagement with the lower edge .of the cylindrical portion 23 of the valve.

the resilience of the springs 37 will urge the is a passage 41 which communicates with the water jacket 22. Secured at the upper end of of leaf springs 31 sup-. a packing ring. 32 bearing againstsion of these packing rings 29 and 32 insures a proper joint between the valve and the casting so thatleakage of oil will be,prevented.

Secured upon the top of each cylinder casting is a cylindrical projection 33, the walls of which surround the .spark' plug. Rotatable upon the projection 33 is a worm wheel 34 from the underside of which extends a plurality of downwardly extending as pins 35 which have-their lower ends slidably engaged within openings 36 in the to portion 24 of the valve. Coil springs 3 surround the pins 35 and. abut against the top of the top portion 24 of the valve and the underside of the worm wheel 34. Suitable studs 38 are threaded into the projections 33 and bear against the .upper surface of-the worm 34 so as to prevent any n ward move-' ment thereof. The resilience o the springs ence of the leaf springs 28 and 31 so that they will urge the valve downwardly into firm engagement with its seat.

' In order to provide means for taking up wear on the valve and its seat, a bearing ring- 39 is disposed within the lower end of the recess 12 and is engaged by a plurality of adjusting screws 40 which:hold the ring 39 When the valve becomes worn so that it no longer fits snugly withm its seat, it is merely necessary to loosen the screws 40 whereupon valve downwardly so that its inclinded sides .will again cooperate with the inclined sides of the recess for forming a tight joint.

Formed in each cylindrical projection 33 each cylindrical projection 33 is acoupling 1 42 which communicates with the passage 41.

and secured upon one side of each cylinder 1 with the water jac et 18. Thesecouplingscasting is a couplin 43 which communicates 42 and 43 provide outlet means for the inner and outer water jackets 17 and 18 respec tively, and are connected with a common outlet manifold 44 leading to the, radiator. of the -motor. At points disposed approximately degrees from the couplings 42v and 43, the cylinder castings are provided with similar coupling members 45 and 46 connected with a common inlet manifold 47 120 also leading to the radiator. The radiator spokenof is not shown as it is notbelieved T to benecessary for a full comprehension of the invention. Y

In order that all the valves may be simultaneously rotated, we provide a shaft 48.disposedlongitudinally .of the cylinder cast- -.ings and ournaled suitable bearings .49. "Above each cylinder, the shaft 48 is provided a worm 5 0, the worms 50 meshlngwith with the worm wheels 34. The shaft 48 may be driven from the crank shaft in any suitaspeed half to increase its eflicienc cient cooling system is provided ble manner, though for thesake of illustration we have shown the crank shaft as provided with a sprocket 51 about which is trained a chain 52 which is in turn trained about a sprocket 53 and carried upon the forward end of the shaft 48. "The ratio of the sprockets 51 and 53 is two to one so that the valves will be properly timed.

In the operation of the engine it will be seen that as long as the crankfshaft 5 is rotating, the shaft 48 will also be rotated at a that of the crank shaft, whereupon by virtue of the worms and worm wheels 34 the valves will be rotated, bringing the ports 54 therein successivel in reg1stra tion with the ports 13 and 14 or admitting the charge and subsequently permitting the exhaust; the engine is the same as the operation of any ordinary internal combustion engine, the pistons 10 and connecting rods 11 operating in the ordinary manner. 1 In view of the fact that the functions of the different parts have already been described, it is thought that the operation will be obvious without further detailed description.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that we have thus provided an internal combustion engine in which each cylinder is provided with a positively driven rotary sleeve valve which is provided with means fortakin up wear upon the valve in order to make t e engine practically noiseless and by preventing leakage of compression an by virtue of inner of the provision of the plurality and outer water jackets surrounding the areas of greatest heat. It will be-noted that provision is made for providing resilient packin at the areas of contact of themtary v-a ve, with the cylinder casting whereby oil leakage will be prevented, and that means is also provided 'for .automaticall holding the valves in close engagement wit their seats so as to insure an effective operation' of the engine. 1

,While we haveshown and described the preferred embodiment the invention, it

- will of course be readily understood that we claims: v a v Having thus described the invention we reserve the right to make'such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention nor the scope of the subjoined clair'n- I 1. In an internal combustion engine a cylinder casting provided with a circular recess concentrlc with the bore of the cylinder andiwedge-shap'ed in,cross section, a valve including a cylindrical portion wedge-shaped In other respects, the operation of one in which an efiiin cross section for conforming engagement within said recess, means for rotating the valve, means for urging said valve resiliently toward the-smaller end of said recess, wear ring disposed within the smaller end of said recess and engaging against the lower edge of the valve, and a plurality of adjusting screws threaded through the cylinder casting and engaging the underside of said ring.

2. In an internal" combustion engine, a cylinder casting having its upper face provided with a ragess concentric with the bore of the cylinder and provided with ports intersecting the recess, a valve including a cylindrical portion disposed within said recess and provided with a port adapted to register successively with said first named port, said valve further including a ring-like top portion bearing upon the top of the casting, an outwardly extending flange on said valve at the juncture of its ring-like top portion with its cylindrical portion, said flange hearing upon the top of the cylinder casting, the top surface of the casting at its areas of contact with said ring-like top portion of the valve and said flange bein provided with circular recesses, .upwar ly spring pressed packing rings disposed within said last named recesses and bearing against the underside of said top portion of the a valve and said flange, a rotatable member connected with the top portion of said valve,

means for rotating said member and a pluwedge shaped'in cross section conformingly engagin within said recess, said valve fur ther inc uding a ring like top member, an

upstanding cylindrical section on the top of said cylinder casting, a drive member rotatable on said projection, a plurality of pins depending from said drive member an slidably engaged within holes formed in the top of said valve, and a plurality of coil springs disposed about said ins and abut ting against the top of the va ve. and the un-' derside. of said drive member. v

4. In an internal combustlon engine, a

cylinder casting provided in its top space with a circular recess concentric with the bore and provided with ports intersecting the recess, arotary valveincluding a cylindrical portion disposed withinmsaid recess and provided with a port adapted to-register successively with said first named ports,

said valve further including a ring like top, an upstanding cylindrical projection on said casting concentric with Said recess, a worm wheel rotatable on said pr0 ect10n, a' drive connection between said worm wheeland the top of the valve, said drive'means comprisdriven shaft supported above the casting,

and a worm on said shaft meshing with said worm wheel. I 10 In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures. v

JAMES'VERNE LEWIS. LEVI ROY-LEWIS.- 

